Archive | GWA Events

Committed, the 4th annual wedding showcase of the Green Wedding Alliance was Sunday, February 22nd at Greenhouse Loft. Committed is a boutique wedding event for engaged couples to meet and interact with green, local businesses that they might want to hire for their wedding.

Each room had different music provided by Toast and Jam, Cage & Aquarium, and Neil Dixon Smith.

Photo by Greenhouse Loft Photography

Photo by Greenhouse Loft Photography

The event was laid-out to create an easy flow for guests to have the opportunity to take in each booth and talk with often the owner of the business.

Guests picked out props and fun hats to have their photo taken by Steve Ewert in the adjacent photo studio.

Midway through the afternoon, the main room of Greenhouse Loft was transformed into a runway for models wearing gowns designed by member dress designers Mignonette and Dame Couture including gowns re-designed from vintage dresses. The models’ hair and make-up was done by Karen Marie Salon and CALM Natural Skin Care.

Photo by Greenhouse Loft Photography

Photo by Tuan Bui Photography

Photo by Heather DeCamp Photography

Committed in a zero-waste event with vendors, including caterers serving in compostable servingware like palm leaves and bamboo toothpicks that Collective Resource (a GWA member) composts after the event.

Photo by Greenhouse Loft Photography

The show featured over 30 Chicago-based small businesses who are members of the Alliance to provide a fun way for engaged couples to gather wedding inspiration and meet the people who are passionate about green weddings in Chicago.

On Thursday, October 16th we threw our second annual beer tasting-wedding show mash-up dubbed Wedtoberfest. We love beer festivals, but feel many are overwhelming for novice drinkers and don’t offer practical options for wedding couples (are you really going to serve a hop-heavy, hard-to-find beer to your guests?). And most wedding shows are very “girly” and don’t appeal to grooms (or many brides). So we created Wedtoberfest as a solution to that – a small beer festival offering local beers that couples might actually purchase for their wedding, and a small wedding show that’s not too feminine.

This year we were pleased to be joined by Tighthead Brewing, Goose Island, Finch’s Beer, New Holland Brewing, Begyle Brewing, and Solemn Oath Brewery.

Cage & Aquarium spun tunes and we raffled off great prizes from CGWA members and the participating breweries.

Our planning lounge was a low-pressure way for couples to browse through members information without the sales pitch or a litany of questions…

We threw in some green facts to let couples know why we do the things we do… Thanks to Loft on Lake for hosting, Memorable Jaunts for the photos, all of the breweries and participating members (especially Art of Imagination who hung the fabulous, sparkly lights), and of course the couples. Until next time…

This post is a little late but we’re still buzzing over here at the CGWA about Wedtoberfest. What a fun night! Thanks to all who came out and to everyone involved.

If you didn’t make it over to the DANK Haus in October to celebrate with us, you missed some good beers and brats! We had nine breweries in the mix serving up some seriously delicious beers—some of which Chicago had never untapped before! We also had our CGWA approved caterers and sweeties serving the best Oktoberfest style foods.

Our planning lounge was a huge hit too. Couples got the chance to walk around in the lounge area and get ideas for their wedding or shop vendors without being “sold” to. This was great for the couple that wants to meet cool vendors who are green and non-traditional, but doesn’t want to experience the hustle and bustle of a formal wedding show.

Cage and Aquarium kept the night alive with their tunes and helped us make some very important announcements. You see, not only did we have food and drink Fit for a King, we also had a pretty sweet raffle! We announced winners every hour and some lucky couples took home hundreds of dollars worth of goodies. From Parisian earrings and engagement sessions to sauerkraut kits and beer, we had something for everyone.

Well if you didn’t make it to Committed, the CGWA’s wedding show last month, you missed out. I am a new member to the group and didn’t participate this year, but decided to attend to see what it was all about. And, let me tell you Committed broke the mold of a wedding show.

Fabulous blooms by Larkspur – Photo by Tuan B Photography

Mignonette designs – Photo by Cage & Aquarium

Punch by FIG Catering/Bowl from Nimble Well – Photo by Cage & Aquarium

How do you have a wedding show that doesn’t fit the mold? Start with a group of wedding vendors that break it! Committed is not only the name of the show and a reference to the act of marriage, it expresses the commitment of people who care about their crafts, their clients, and about making our world a better place through their practices. That passionate ethos alone makes Committed a show unlike any other.<

Cake toppers from Luscious Layers – Photo by Tuan B Photography

But this ethos that makes a difference is understated. It is offered as a reassurance to those who share our values and an invitation to those who are open to consider. Few ‘green’ flags were waved and the mental images of the experience did not all have a green hue. The tone wasn’t hippie-dippy or “granola,” but rather offered professional vendors who just happened to be eco-friendly.

Yum by Pure Kitchen Catering – Photo by Tuan B Photography

Elotes from Goose Island Catering – Photo by Tuan B Photography

Photo by Cage + Aquarium

The real banner waving over Committed was the banner of having a good time. It was that vibe that really shattered the tired dynamic of a typical ‘trade show.’ Creative genius that could be seen, heard, touch, smelled, and tasted was prominent. Each vendor offered unique contributions to making a wedding the unique experience it should be – DJs laid down beats, taste buds were tantalized by caterers and sweet vendors, boozy drinks were poured, and visual treats abounded. And, best of all, no high pressured sales…the lives of couples planning weddings don’t need any more anxiety! Instead Committed exuded a laid back, chill vibe committed to having fun. Whether it was in the rumpus room with the DIY activities, posing for photos with fun head-ware, making your own hot chocolate marvel, or interacting with competent and eco-responsible wedding vendors, Committed was the party intended to help you make your weddings the party of your lifetime (and allow you to do it a little greener).

Wedding ring toss with Catalyst Ranch – Photo by Tuan B Photography

Dancing – Photo by Tuan B Photography

Viewmaster with Greenhouse Loft – Photo by Tuan B Photography

Our one nod to greenness – explaining how we composted with Collective Resource

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For any questions, suggestions, and general excitement, send an email to greenweddingalliance [at symbol here] gmail.com